SpaceX complains to FCC about Eutelsat

SpaceX has complained to the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) over Eutelsat’s application to modify its permissions to operate over the US. Additionally, Eutelsat’s CEO Jean-François Fallacher has stressed that the recent Starlink problems suffered by Ukraine could not happen with Eutelsat’s OneWeb.

The Eutelsat FCC application is made in the name of WorldVu Satellites, the original name of its OneWeb low Earth orbiting satellite system.

The SpaceX complaint – which might be considered pretty routine – states: “Eutelsat continues to seek expanded access to scarce US spectrum and orbital resources over its US competitors while its home administration seeks to discriminate against American operators. Whereas the US has encouraged competition and restated its commitment to following international regulations, just last month, Europe considered proposals to severely restrict American companies from being able to compete. Eutelsat continues to hope the Commission will overlook this obvious disparate treatment so that it can be treated better than its American competitors.”

The complaint continues: “But the Commission rightly proposed reciprocal treatment in an effort to ensure that all companies are treated fairly, no matter where they are based. The Commission must not treat Eutelsat’s application any different than how its home administration would treat companies based in the United States, which may include dismissing any claims to ITU priority and severe restrictions on access to spectrum and orbital resources. Ideally, the Commission’s policies supporting reciprocity will result in all companies competing on an even playing field to provide the best service to Americans and people around the world.”

As to the difference between Starlink and OneWeb, Jean-François Fallacher said on October 23 while in an interview on a Paris-based radio station. ““We have a board of directors that makes decisions of importance on strategy,” Fallacher said. “If one day we decided to cut service to a country, it would not be just the CEO. The board of directors would decide. We have two governments, France and Britain, that sit on our board, and we have Bharti of India as well. Regardless of any decision by a US or Chinese company to stop service in Europe, we have a service that continues.”

Eutelsat will declare its Q1 results on October 29th.

Creative Media Centre
Hastings
East Sussex
TN34 1HL

Tel: +44 7900 196870